By Donnie A. Lucas

Members of the Old Jail Art Center will get an advance look at two new exhibits during a dinner reception on Saturday, Sept. 11, but tickets must be reserved by today’s deadline.

The featured exhibits include Bill Wittliff’s “Swallowed Light” and Bruce Lee Webb’s “Hootenanny,” and both will continue to hang through January 2022.

The evening is open free of charge to members of the local art center, but an RSVP must be received by Sept. 9. The festivities will start at 7:00 p.m.

A Birder’s 

Point of View

By Brad McBee

The first time I saw a Cattle Egret I thought I had somehow taken a journey to the African Savannah. That is not far from the truth because the Cattle Egret originated on that continent. In Africa, they are often known as Rhino Birds or Elephant Birds, making their way to South America in the 1870s and then eventually to United States in 1952. 

By Sam Waller

Connected Nation Texas recently released updated broadband coverage maps for all 254 counties in the state, including Shackelford, showing internet service coverage based on local surveys filled out last spring.

According to a news release issued by Connected Nation (CN) Texas, 286,908 households across Texas still lack access to federally recognized broadband speeds.

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Albany Ministerial Alliance, of which Paul Johnston is an active member, announced Tuesday that they have set up a way to donate directly to help the Friendship Baptist Church pastor with his medical expenses.

Friends who would like to donate can ask tellers at either local bank – First Financial and First National – to put the funds in Johnston’s account. Both banks also have facilities in Abilene.

By Sam Waller

Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church will begin its Mothers Day Out childcare program Friday at MMPC.

Mothers Day Out director Brandi Lehew said the program is open to children ages 1 to 5 who haven’t started school yet.

“We have a monthly curriculum that we follow,” Lehew said. “We learn Bible stories and music. We’ll have arts and crafts and take field trips.”

The program runs Mondays and Fridays through May 23, the Monday of the last week of the school year.

“We follow the Albany ISD school calendar,” Lehew said.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The 35th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale is set for this weekend at the county show barn, with 110 pigs from 14 consignors from eight states to be sold on Sunday.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association for capital improvements or to help fund the county stock show held in January.

“We are looking for up to 300 buyers this year,” organizer Mike Parsons said. “We have looked at all these pigs and are expecting a very competitive sale.”

By Sam Waller

Registration for General Education Development  (GED) classes will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13  at the Shackelford County Library.

Instructor Kenzie Fairchild said registrants will need to bring an acceptable form of identification such as drivers license and Social Security card. The classes are open to students age 17 or older. Students who are 17 must have parental consent to register.

Monday’s session will include some instruction and last until 8:30 p.m.

By Sam Waller

Myleigh Leveridge of Albany placed first in Class 7 with her Hereford heifer Saturday at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene.

The 9-month-old unbred heifer advanced to the championship judging, but did not place.

“In this division, they only have a grand and a reserve champion,” Nickie Leveridge, Myleigh’s mother, said. “She could not compete with some of the bigger cows.”

Heifers were divided into classes based on their date of birth.

The calf was bred by Leveridge’s grandfather, Mike Leveridge.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Board members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District (SCAD) will meet on Friday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 a.m. to make a final decision about the proposed SCAD budget for 2022. A copy of the budget can be viewed at the SCAD office at 132 Hill St., where the meeting will be held.   

The $397,937 proposed figure approved by the SCAD board is $6,192 more, about 1.58 percent, than the current adopted budget of $391,745.

By Sam Waller

Shackelford County 4-H will host a come-and-go kickoff party and organizational meeting next Monday, Sept. 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Feed Store.

Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said the meeting will offer an overview of programs available to 4-Hers in the coming year.

“We’ll have each of our project leaders giving information about what the year will look like in each of those areas,” Bell said. “This is just to come and learn and will be very casual.”